It has been a tumultuous few months for Fox News, and Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch believes the seas can be steadied for the legacy cable organization.
During an appearance at the MoffettNathanson Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference, Murdoch refused to go into the particulars behind the firing of former host Tucker Carlson. He simply alluded to the decision being right for the network’s business.
“I’m not going to go into programming at Fox News short of saying that all our programming decisions are made with the long-term interests of the Fox News brand and the Fox News business at heart,” Murdoch said.
Many have questioned the future forward for Fox News after Carlson’s ouster. Some have boisterously claimed the network was in its final days. However, Murdoch used previous high-profile Fox News exits as proof of the network’s staying power in the news media landscape.
“Bill O’Reilly was a superstar. Megyn Kelly was a superstar. Glenn Beck was a superstar,” said Murdoch. “And we were able to move forward with programming decisions that ultimately result in long-term growth and profitability of the business.”
A decline in ratings has followed Fox News after Carlson’s departure. After garnering more than 3 million viewers in the timeslot, Fox News Tonight is only capturing roughly half of that figure.
Drudge Report claimed the network had finalized changes to its primetime lineup Wednesday, reporting that Sean Hannity would move into the role previously occupied by Carlson. A Fox News spokesperson, however, has denied that report.
